While slow mobility or active mobility are the most affordable forms of mobility, it is a lifestyle that many tropical cities in Asia have neglected in their urban-scale planning with the increase of private vehicle usage*. As more issues of urban fragmentation and traffic congestion arise over time, some cities are starting to acknowledge that cities should not merely be built for vehicular traffic, but mainly for people*.
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In our book “Well-being For All: A Holistic Framework for Tropical Cities”, we believe that the idea of a human-centred city, rather than a car-centric city, has a vast positive impact on many aspects of city life. When active modes of transportation like walking, cycling, riding and taking public transport are made more accessible for commuters, it helps to not only decrease the sense of isolation associated with private commuting, but also reduces time in traffic and transport-related emissions. Singapore’s Islandwide Cycling Network Programme (ICN) plans to expand the cycling path network to around 1300km islandwide by 2030, connecting HDB residents to transport nodes, amenities, schools and even other HDB towns*. In addition to that, dedicated paths and intersections for slow mobility can help to improve safety, reduce commuting times by foot or bike, and encourage people to go car-lite. This strongly influences the viability of slow mobility.
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Pedestrianised streets in the city help to invite a slower pace of life, providing opportunities for people to slow down and interact with what the city has to offer, be it to support local businesses, interact with neighbours, appreciate the sights and smells of nature in the city, or to just take a mental and physical break from the hustle and bustle of city life. For example, open public hubs for performative arts along pedestrian-prioritised commute trails or F&B pop-ups along the sidewalks create a multidimensional vibrancy that would otherwise be hard to achieve in a fast-paced, car-centric city.
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An example would be the Urban Ventures pop-up placemaking event at Keong Saik Road in Singapore that reclaimed thestreets and street-side parking lots for fitness classes, interactiveworkshops, market stalls, live art and roving performances*.
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When cities are designed around people’s needs, this contributes to a strong sense of place and belonging, thereby improving the physical health, mental health and social capital of the city’s inhabitants, and creating vibrant cities that bring collective joy and community Well-being for All.
